Visitors this weekend

Submitted by Magnus on January 14th, 2023 at 9:00 AM

I haven't posted about this in a while, but Michigan has a few 2024 recruits coming in for unofficial visits this weekend. In fact, there are at least three 4-star prospects in Jacob Oden, Bryce West, and Jordan Marshall. Here's a rundown if you're interested: LINK.

On a side note, I also wanted to mention that Belleville product Jamari Buddin is on the move out of Penn State. There was a lot of consternation a couple years ago about Michigan being unable to lock him down, and it spurred a lot of vitriol toward Belleville's head coach, Coach Crowell. Buddin made 4 tackles in 2021 and 8 in 2022, and now he's headed elsewhere.

Buddin was a 4-star recruit, but struggles continue for high-profile prospects from Belleville.

Former 5-star Julian Barnett has 18 tackles and 0.5 sacks in his career and has notched just 1 start at Memphis since transferring from MSU.

Former 5-star Devontae Dobbs barely played at MSU before transferring to Memphis, where he played in 5 games in 2021 and is no longer on the roster.

Andre Seldon (4-star) couldn't get on the field at Michigan and is now at New Mexico State, where he had an okay season.

Davion Williams (4-star) made a few tackles at MSU before transferring to Western Kentucky.

Former 5-star DT Damon Payne is at Alabama; he redshirted in 2021 and made 7 tackles while playing in six games in 2022, so maybe he's got a chance.

XM - Mt 1822

January 14th, 2023 at 2:24 PM ^

DD, i think you remember that correctly.  there are some very good athletes that are coming up short on their potential.  in the camps they were all weighed, timed, vertical jumps, 7 v 7 competitions, etc.  so that would normally be your big show and tell beyond hudl films.  and even if they were poorly coached, with the raw athleticism you should be able to make those lads into the players you need them to be. 

Jkidd49

January 14th, 2023 at 9:25 AM ^

"So coach...you gonna be here next year?"

"No man knows the future"

"Uhh ok... how about my.position coach?  Will be leave with you if you go?"

"No man knows the future"

"Mmm k"

1VaBlue1

January 14th, 2023 at 9:42 AM ^

So the question here is how are all these guys getting ranked so high?  I know that not everyone is a hit and that rankings are not perfect.  But having so many highly ranked guys, that big time programs are after, miss has to be unusual, right?  Does Crowell teach how to camp more so than teach the game?

Magnus

January 14th, 2023 at 3:01 PM ^

I had some issues with Dobbs's film coming out of high school; he was always slow off the ball, and his length was a question mark. I didn't really think Barnett was a 5-star; a good prospect, but not a "wow" type of player. I thought Seldon was a 4-star caliber player for college, but with limited upside since he lacks size. (If you connect star rankings to NFL draft placement, a guy who's 5'8" is unlikely to get drafted very high, if at all.) I was never that excited about Buddin or Williams.

Payne was the only guy who legitimately looked a 5-star player to me.

bronxblue

January 14th, 2023 at 1:10 PM ^

It's been said around here for a while but the next good college player to come out of Belleville will be their first.  I don't know what happens but none of them have been able to even be an above-average college player.

Marshall is a necessary get for Hart and the running back room.  

Magnus

January 14th, 2023 at 1:51 PM ^

Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration. Belleville has had a couple decent players in recent years, including Iowa starting safety Kaevon Merriweather. But the big name guys from Belleville have not come anywhere close to living up to their rankings.

Also, Belleville put out Cullen Jenkins, Kris Jenkins, and Ian Gold back in the day (late 90s/early 2000s), so it's just been a bit of a dry spell.

Dan84

January 14th, 2023 at 2:16 PM ^

Also appears to be a good group coming next weekend, as well (all taken from Brice Marich's tweets):

I'Marion Stewart, a 4 star WR/Ath from Bolingbrook, IL who has a Crystal Ball to Michigan.

Eddie Tuerk, a 4-star DL from La Grange, IL will "likely" be at Michigan next weekend.

Ted Hammond, a 3-star DL from Cincinnati.

Brian Robinson, a 4-star Edge from Youngstown who has two Crystal Balls to Michigan.

 

 

Double-D

January 14th, 2023 at 3:12 PM ^

The film on Jordan Marshall looks pretty awesome. He has great feet and vision. Pretty good speed and lots of power.

Magnus what are your thoughts on him as a player and his recruitment?

He is a Cincinnati kid. Does he seem open to looking beyond OSU?

jonnyknox

January 14th, 2023 at 4:44 PM ^

That is interesting how the Belleville players seem to peak in high school.  Guess I don't mind missing out on them.  It always seemed odd that more of them didn't have interest in Michigan given the proximity to Ann Arbor.